25 August 2017, New York City – Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr., as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations New York Committee (ANYC), and in partnership with the Permanent Mission of Japan, welcomed participants to the Fourth “Peace is…” event to celebrate ASEAN’s 50th Anniversary at the UNHQ.

Ikebana Master Mr. Noritaka Noda of the Ikenobo Society of Floral Art led the Ikebana workshop attended by delegates of the Permanent Missions to the United Nations, UN senior officials and staff and other guests.

“The ASEAN-Japan ‘Peace is…Beautiful’ event commemorates not only 50 years of ASEAN but also 50 years of robust partnerships, pioneering initiatives and the power of possibilities,” Ambassador Locsin said.

“What better way to celebrate this happy occasion than through Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arrangement, a disciplined expression of creativity and grace ‘where nature and humanity are brought together’,” Ambassador Locsin added.

Ambassador Koro Bessho, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, in turn, conveyed that “Japan has been, and always will be working together with ASEAN, a robust regional arrangement” and recognized ASEAN for contributing to the maintenance of international peace and security as well prosperity of the region.

Ambassador Bessho explained that the “Peace is… initiative focuses on art and culture as a medium through which we can better connect with the UN and its objectives.” He stressed that the Permanent Mission of Japan has collaborated with Japanese artists residing in New York, who believe in the power of art to bridge divisions and bring people together.

The “Peace is…” event is a monthly cultural presentation organized by the Mission of Japan since April 2017 which provides an opportunity to engage the public and other UN stakeholders on “what peace means for them.”

Musical performances were provided by the Permanent Missions of Cambodia , Indonesia, Lao PDR, the Philippines and Thailand during the Ikebana workshop.

On 19 July 2017, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution on “Commemoration of the fiftieth Anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations” (A/RES/71/317) sponsored by the ASEAN Member States, together with a number of partners from across the regions of the Asia-Pacific, Africa, the Americas, the Caribbean and Europe as co-sponsors.

The UN Department of Public Information (DPI) also supported the event. END